Form W-9 — Request for Taxpayer Identification Number

Collect the taxpayer identification number (TIN) and certification from U.S. persons for information return reporting.

What is Form W-9?

Form W-9 is used to request a payee's taxpayer identification number (TIN) and certification. It is NOT filed with the IRS — it is kept by the requester to verify the payee's identity and TIN before filing information returns (like 1099-NEC or 1099-MISC). Backup withholding of 24% applies if a valid W-9 is not provided.

Who Must File W-9?

  • 1Any business that needs to file an information return for a payee
  • 2Companies onboarding new vendors or contractors
  • 3Financial institutions opening accounts
  • 4Real estate agents processing transactions

Filing threshold: N/A — collected before payments, not filed with IRS

W-9 Filing Deadlines

Paper Filing

Before first payment (no IRS deadline)

Electronic Filing

N/A — W-9 is not filed electronically with the IRS

Recipient Copy

N/A

Penalties for Late or Incorrect Filing

$50 per failure to furnish TIN; backup withholding of 24% if not collected

2024 penalty tiers: $60/form (≤30 days late) → $130/form (31 days–Aug 1) → $310/form (after Aug 1) → $630/form (intentional disregard). Small business caps may apply.

W-9 Box-by-Box Guide

BoxDescription
Line 1Name (as shown on your income tax return)
Line 2Business name/disregarded entity name
Line 3Federal tax classification (individual, C corp, S corp, partnership, LLC, trust)
Line 5–6Address
Part ITaxpayer Identification Number (SSN or EIN)
Part IICertification and signature

How TaxBlitz Simplifies W-9 Filing

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AI-Powered Extraction

Upload documents and let our 14-agent AI system extract data automatically — no manual entry.

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Direct IRS eFiling

File electronically via FIRE (Pub 1220) or IRIS — no paper, no postage, instant confirmation.

TIN Verification

Verify taxpayer IDs before filing to avoid CP2100 notices and B-Notice requirements.

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Print & Mail

Automatically print and mail recipient copies via USPS with delivery tracking (Lob API).

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eDelivery Portal

Recipients access forms instantly through a secure, token-authenticated online portal.

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Corrections & Void

File corrections or void forms electronically — no manual IRS correspondence needed.

W-9 Frequently Asked Questions

Is a W-9 filed with the IRS?

No. The W-9 stays with the requester. It is used to collect TIN information needed to file information returns (1099s). The IRS never sees the W-9 itself.

What happens if a contractor refuses to provide a W-9?

You are required to begin backup withholding at 24% on all payments to that person. You should also send a B-Notice (backup withholding notice) per IRS requirements.

Can I collect W-9s electronically?

Yes. TaxBlitz provides electronic W-9 collection with automated email solicitation, secure recipient portal, and signature capture.

How long should I keep W-9 forms?

Keep W-9 forms for at least 4 years after the last tax year in which the form was used for reporting. Some organizations keep them longer for audit protection.

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